Mambo Minx

I just ordered Mambo Minx tonight after one of my friends passed along a menu they had left at his apartment complex.  The pitch of Mambo Minx is intriguing: Latin-Asian fusion.  Which sounds great - katsu, kalbi, bibimbap, along with tacos, fried plantains, emapanadas and more - but sometimes these fusion things go wrong.  Mambo Minx doesn't go wrong at all.

Be aware that they're currently delivery only, require a $15 minimum, and have a credit card surcharge.  They deliver in a 3 mile radius (which should cover most of Purdue and central Lafayette).  The delivery driver said they were opening a full-fledged restaurant soon (which, given the address, seems like it might be replacing Bea One.  Which would make me sad, but I would give up Bea One for this...).

I ordered the bento one, which has a few kalbi rib slices, black beans and rice, fried plantains, a nice little napa cabbage salad, and a veggie gyoza.  Plenty of food for one, but I also wanted to try some other stuff, so I got a beef empanada and spam musubi as well.

Just typing that last paragraph made me happy.  Mambo Minx is like a nice combo of a good Hawaiian lunch counter and a Colombian food stand.
This is good stuff.

Why only four stars then?  Well, first, I need to try more of the menu before they get the full five.  And I definitely will.  Second, no one should have a credit card surcharge in this day and age.  Third, just some small things: a bit too much rice in the spam musubi for me, and I could have used one more piece of kalbi in my bento.

Overall though, Mambo Minx is now in the running for my favorite food in Lafayette (along with Shaukin, Green Leaf, and Taco Rico, just so you have some reference).  I can't wait until the restaurant opens.